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does anyone make any that have soles with more friction/grip than spesh BG sport mtb shoes? I don't mean an aggregative tread, or studs, but soles that grip rather than slide off rock. On wet rock or dry rock on the descent from Glaslynn to Machynlleth my hard plastic soles on my spesh ones were useless yet my cheap'n'not-so-nasty brasher walking boots (used two days later, same weather) whilst not exactly gripping like leeches at least didn't act like the soles were made of teflon.
[url= http://fiveten.com/products/footwear-detail/10926-maltese-falcon ]maltese falcon[/url]
Five Ten would be the obvious suggestion, they ahve a few SPD models now I think.
Shimano M161? If you are a size 38 then [url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=47511&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_name=UnitedKingdom ]CRC[/url] have them cheap.
damn they are loud.
Shimano MT-43?
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Mavic shoes are OK for grip - they use the Contagrip rubber from Salomon: a lot better than hard plastic but I don't know they compare to the rubbery Shimano soles.
Haven't been able to get on with the last they use to make Shinamo shoes in the past, too narrow for my broad feet.
Does any real world shop in SE England stock the Five Ten's so I can try a pair on? (No I won't then go and buy them from CRC!)
Northwave SPD's have a good grippy vibram sole
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I love Northwaves and I also find Shimano's way too narrow to be comfortable
M087's have a rubber sole and are available in a wide option
Northwave Mission's, nice grippy Vibram sole, only slight draw back is that they aren't al that stiff so you need a clipless pedal with a platform, like a CB Mallet, or you can feel them bending around the pedal.
I'll echo exactly what Bazz said. Northwave Mission's and a Shimano plaform SPD is a dream ticket IMHO
I have a pair of pearl Izumi alps, I've used them to climb Stone Mountain, Atlanta, USA (a granite boulder) after a 60k road ride. Not the stiffest shoe, but a great compromise, ImHO
Another vote for Shimano M087's.
Specialized Rimes are nice and stiff for pedalling and have a 'proper' Vibram sole for those moments when your fitness or skill levels force you off the bike. Love mine.
Spech tahoe's here, been v good